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Tag: #Sustainability

  • PepsiCo Positive drives sustainable growth across India

    PepsiCo Positive drives sustainable growth across India

    PepsiCo said on Thursday its PepsiCo Positive (pep+) sustainability programme is driving measurable growth across its global operations, with India emerging as a key market for the initiative’s expansion.

    In its 2025 ESG Performance Update, the company said it has extended regenerative, restorative and protective farming practices to 4.7 million acres across more than 60 countries, achieved 100% water replenishment at company-owned facilities in high-water-risk areas, and cut virgin plastic use in primary packaging by 6%.

    “We’re excited by the momentum we’re building as pep+ continues to transform our business end to end,” said Jim Andrew, PepsiCo’s chief sustainability officer. He said the company is “evolving our product portfolio to offer more choices” while strengthening the business for the long term.

    In India, PepsiCo Positive is being implemented through the company’s Partnership for Progress philosophy, which engages roughly 36,000 farmers across 14 states. The company sources 100% of its chip-grade potatoes locally in the country.

    “In India, our growth is deeply connected to the strength and resilience of the ecosystem around us,” said Yashika Singh, chief corporate affairs officer and sustainability head for PepsiCo India & South Asia, adding that the approach turns interdependence into shared growth across farmers, communities and consumers.

    The company has partnered with start-ups to bring digital tools to its farmer network. Its Mitti Didi initiative offers soil-health diagnostics to thousands of farmers, while the Lay’s Smart Farms programme, developed with Cropin, spans more than 18,000 mapped acres and reaches over 7,000 farmers. Micro-irrigation has reached full adoption across key potato-sourcing regions, including more than 2,300 acres in Uttar Pradesh.

    On water, PepsiCo said its Pune manufacturing facility has cut water use by more than 90%, part of a broader effort that has replenished 23 billion litres of water globally since 2010 and reached about 97 million people with safe water access.

    The company is also advancing circularity in India, complying with local Extended Producer Responsibility rules and redesigning packaging with mono-material and polyolefin-based structures, alongside a shift to 100% rPET bottles for select beverage products. Biomass now makes up 97% of PepsiCo India’s fuel mix.

    On transport, the Kosi–Pataudi EV Green Corridor, run with Kalyani Powertrain Limited and Vayudoot Road Carriers, operates thirteen 32-foot electric trucks covering roughly 6 lakh electric kilometres annually. PepsiCo India has retrofitted more than 800 vehicles for last-mile delivery.

    The company said more than half of its beverage portfolio by volume in India is now low- or zero-sugar, alongside new offerings such as Red Rock Deli baked variants with 40% less fat and millet-based Kurkure Jowar Puffs.

  • Hitachi Vantara commits to validated net-zero by 2040

    Hitachi Vantara commits to validated net-zero by 2040

    Hitachi Vantara, the data infrastructure and hybrid cloud unit of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501), said on Thursday it has set a validated net-zero target to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions across its global value chain by fiscal year 2040.

    The company said its near- and long-term emissions targets have been independently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a body that sets standards for corporate climate goals, giving customers and partners assurance the plan aligns with current climate science.

    The announcement comes as data centers face mounting scrutiny over energy use tied to the AI boom. A Congressional Research Service report cited by the company found cooling systems account for 38% to 40% of data center electricity consumption, underscoring the stakes for infrastructure providers.

    “Customers increasingly expect their technology suppliers to demonstrate that their climate commitments are credible and backed by action,” said Simon Ninan, senior vice president of business strategy at Hitachi Vantara. He said the validated net-zero target “holds us accountable to measurable progress.”

    Under the near-term plan, Hitachi Vantara aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions 98% by FY2030 from an FY2024 baseline, and reduce Scope 3 emissions 51% per usable petabyte of storage sold by FY2036. The long-term goal calls for a 97% cut in Scope 3 emissions per petabyte sold by FY2040.

    The company said it reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions 43% in FY2025, helped by sourcing half its energy from renewables. It has also expanded sustainability features across its VSP One storage platform and is aligning products with Hitachi’s Eco-Design Management Guidelines.

    Hitachi Vantara pointed to customer results from its VSP 360 Clear Sight monitoring tool: Turkey’s DestekBank cut data center energy use 25% and total cost of ownership 20%; India’s Malayala Manorama reduced power and cooling costs 70% and rack space 66%; Turkey’s Garanti BBVA estimated its Hitachi Vantara systems use about 30% less energy than rival systems; and Brazil’s Aquiris used the platform to support wastewater treatment operations processing more than 110 million cubic meters annually.

    “Sustainability is most effective when it is embedded into decision-making across the organization,” said Courtney Hadden, sustainability director at Hitachi Vantara, adding that the SBTi validation gives the company “a clear, science-based framework” to track progress.

  • SBI, Bisleri partner to boost plastic waste management

    SBI, Bisleri partner to boost plastic waste management

    State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, has signed a Letter of Association with Bisleri International to boost plastic waste management across its branches and offices nationwide.

    Under the agreement, Bisleri will conduct training and awareness sessions for SBI employees and housekeeping staff, and will collect used plastic waste from SBI premises for recycling, the companies said in a joint statement.

    The tie-up falls under Bisleri’s “Bottles for Change” programme, through which the packaged water maker works with institutions, housing societies, corporates and communities to encourage responsible plastic waste management.

    The companies said the partnership is intended to support India’s shift toward a circular economy and aid the country’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

    Ravi Ranjan, SBI’s Managing Director for Risk, Compliance and Stressed Assets Resolution, said the collaboration was a step toward embedding sustainable practices into the bank’s workplace culture.

    “We believe that when employees are empowered to make responsible choices, that awareness extends well beyond our offices and into the communities that we serve and are a part of,” Ranjan said, adding that such partnerships support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

    Bisleri International Chief Executive Angelo George said the partnership combines SBI’s institutional reach with Bisleri’s experience in plastic waste management.

    “By engaging employees across SBI offices, we aim to build responsible practices at the workplace that can extend into homes and communities,” George said, describing the initiative as a potential model for corporate participation in the circular economy.

    SBI said the collaboration reinforces its broader commitment to environmental stewardship as it works toward a Scope 1, 2 and 3 net-zero target by 2055, the year the bank marks its centenary.

  • AWL transforms recycled plastic into park benches

    AWL transforms recycled plastic into park benches

    AWL Agri Business Ltd, formerly Adani Wilmar Limited, has adopted and revamped a public park opposite ICB Flora Apartment in Gota, Ahmedabad, under a five-year maintenance agreement with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

    As part of the initiative, the company transforms 1,100 kg of recycled plastic from Fortune packaging into 43 benches installed across the park, in a move it says reflects its focus on circularity and responsible resource utilisation.

    Senior leaders from AWL Agri Business, along with AMC officials and local corporators, conducted a “Green Walk” through the park, planting trees and distributing saplings to visitors to encourage community participation in sustainability efforts.

    “We, at AWL Agri Business, believe that sustainability is not limited to our operations and products. It is also about creating meaningful impact in the communities where we operate,” said Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director and CEO, AWL Agri Business Ltd.

    “The benches, made using recycled Fortune packaging material, further reflect our commitment to circularity and responsible resource utilisation.”

    Spread across 19,000 square metres, the park has been developed as a recreational space featuring green landscaping, a children’s play area, a jogging track, gazebos and drinking water facilities, while contributing to local biodiversity.

    The company said the initiative demonstrates how recycled plastic and packaging waste can be given a second life within everyday community infrastructure, forming part of its broader corporate social responsibility strategy in urban environments.

    AWL Agri Business, whose flagship brand is Fortune, operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities across 11 states, including India’s largest single-location refinery in Mundra with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day. The company serves more than 135 million households through a network of over 10,000 distributors and 2.6 million retail outlets.

  • Jindal Stainless launches landmark Parivartan plan

    Jindal Stainless launches landmark Parivartan plan

    Jindal Stainless Foundation (JSF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Jindal Stainless, said on Monday it has launched a landmark initiative called “Parivartan,” an integrated village development programme targeting Ladwa village near the company’s Hisar manufacturing facility in Haryana.

    The programme is expected to benefit approximately 7,500 to 8,000 residents, the foundation said, through a participatory model covering healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, agriculture, livelihood promotion, sanitation, environmental sustainability, community participation and institutional strengthening.

    JSF Chairperson Deepika Jindal said the Parivartan initiative reflects the company’s belief that businesses and communities should grow together. “Through ‘Parivartan,’ we aim to create a sustainable and inclusive development model for Ladwa Village by addressing critical areas such as healthcare, education, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability,” Jindal said, adding the foundation intends to build partnerships that deliver lasting social impact.

    Rather than standalone interventions, the foundation said Parivartan will pursue a comprehensive village development model built around community ownership and local capacity-building, in partnership with the Gram Panchayat, government departments, community-based organisations and NGOs.

    The programme will begin with a baseline survey and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to assess Ladwa’s socio-economic profile and identify priorities, JSF said. Findings will feed into a Village Development Plan prepared jointly with local stakeholders.

    JSF said it will hold regular Gram Sabha meetings and consultations with youth, women, farmers, teachers, frontline workers and local leaders throughout the programme to maintain transparency and accountability. The foundation described Parivartan as a long-term model for inclusive growth and community empowerment.

  • HCLFoundation marks landmark dreen drive for 50 years

    HCLFoundation marks landmark dreen drive for 50 years

    HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India, said on Tuesday it marked the 50th anniversary of HCL Group with a landmark environmental drive, planting 50,000 native saplings and organizing clean-up campaigns at 50 beaches nationwide.

    The initiatives, spread across 10 states, brought together HCLTech employees and their families, nonprofit partners, women’s collectives, youth groups and community members, HCLFoundation said in a statement.

    The drives form part of HCLFoundation’s broader sustainability push to strengthen ecosystems, conserve natural resources and encourage community participation in environmental stewardship, the organization said.

    HCLFoundation said it has greened 74,000 acres of land to date, bringing the area under community management, while more than 155 billion liters of water have been harvested, supporting biodiversity and bolstering water security in some of India’s most water-stressed communities.

    As part of its coastal conservation work, the Foundation said it has planted more than 181,000 saplings of terrestrial, mangrove and shelter belt species and collected over 120,800 kg of ghost nets and marine debris to date.

    “As we celebrate 50 remarkable years of HCL Group, we are reminded every day that growth and progress are not separable from a deep commitment to a sustainable planet and resilient communities,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCLFoundation.

    “We believe that meaningful change is achieved when communities come together with a shared purpose, and we are grateful to our employees, families, partners and volunteers for joining us in contributing to a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future.”

    HCLFoundation delivers HCLTech’s corporate social responsibility agenda in India, investing in long-term programs focused on education, grassroots sports, health and sanitation, skill development and livelihood, environment, and disaster risk reduction. The Foundation said it has positively impacted more than 8.5 million lives to date.

    HCLTech is a global technology company with more than 223,000 employees across 60 countries, offering services in AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software. The company reported consolidated revenues of $14.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 2026.

  • HCLTech named to TIME’s most sustainable companies 2026 list for 2nd straight year

    HCLTech named to TIME’s most sustainable companies 2026 list for 2nd straight year

    HCLTech, a global technology company, has been named to TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2026 list, marking its second consecutive year on the ranking, the company said.

    HCLTech ranks among the top five global professional services companies on the list and is the highest-ranked India-headquartered company in the category, the company said.

    The ranking, compiled by TIME in collaboration with Statista, assesses more than 5,800 global companies across more than 20 sustainability indicators, including commitments and ratings, reporting and transparency, and environmental and social stewardship.

    HCLTech said the recognition reflects its alignment with the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals. In fiscal year 2026, the company said it replenished 51 times more water than it consumed and retained zero waste-to-landfill platinum certification across all owned facilities.

    The company said it has accelerated its net-zero journey by achieving its 2030 Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated emissions target four years ahead of schedule.

    “Being recognized by TIME for a second consecutive year reflects the progress we are making in embedding sustainability deeper into the core of our business and advancing our net-zero ambition for 2040,” said Vipul Arora, Global Head of Sustainability at HCLTech.

    “Our focus remains on scaling impact through innovation, partnerships and responsible practices that enable long-term value for our clients, communities and the broader ecosystem,” Arora said.

    HCLTech is a global technology company with more than 223,000 employees across 60 countries, offering services in AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software. The company serves clients across sectors including financial services, manufacturing, life sciences and healthcare, technology and services, semiconductors, telecom and media, retail and consumer packaged goods, mobility and public services.

    Consolidated revenue for the 12 months ending June 2026 totaled USD 14.8 billion, the company said.

  • Coromandel achieves Responsible Care Certification from ICC

    Coromandel achieves Responsible Care Certification from ICC

    Coromandel International Limited, one of India’s leading agri-solutions providers, said it has received the Coromandel Responsible Care Certification from the Indian Chemical Council (ICC), placing it among a select group of companies globally to achieve the recognition.

    The certification, valid from April 2026 to March 2029, covers all 18 manufacturing facilities across the company’s Nutrients, Crop Protection Chemicals, Specialty Nutrients and Bio businesses, Coromandel said.

    Responsible Care is a globally recognized chemical industry initiative that promotes safety, health, environmental protection, product stewardship and security across the value chain.

    The framework is administered worldwide by the International Council of Chemical Associations and implemented in more than 70 countries, helping companies strengthen manufacturing practices and meet stakeholder expectations, the company said.

    Coromandel said it earned the certification after a comprehensive assessment and verification process led by the ICC, having undertaken a structured improvement programme across its manufacturing operations, business functions and supplier ecosystem.

    The programme included interventions in process safety, employee wellbeing, environmental performance, product responsibility, distribution safety and community engagement.

    “This certification is a testament to Coromandel’s consistent focus on responsible manufacturing and high safety standards,” said S. Sankarasubramanian, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Coromandel International Limited.

    “We are making significant investments to strengthen our safety systems and environmental practices and remain committed to upholding the highest standards across all our operations.”

    Coromandel is India’s second-largest manufacturer and marketer of phosphatic fertiliser, and operates across fertilizers, crop protection, bio products, specialty nutrients and organic businesses.

    The company runs more than 1,200 rural retail outlets across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, offering agri inputs and farming services including crop advisory, soil testing and farm mechanisation to around 3 million farmers.

    The company operates eight R&D centres and 21 manufacturing facilities across India. Coromandel reported turnover of 31,827 crore rupees in fiscal year 2025-26. It has been recognised by the UNDP for its environmental efforts and was named among the ten greenest companies in India by TERI.

    Coromandel is part of the Murugappa Group, which posted turnover of 90,178 crore rupees in fiscal year 2024-25.

  • KCG, Urbaser sign moU for waste management drive

    KCG, Urbaser sign moU for waste management drive

    KCG College of Technology, a unit of the Hindustan Group of Institutions, has signed a transformative Memorandum of Understanding with Sumeet Urban Services (Chennai) V Pvt Ltd, known as Urbaser Sumeet, to deepen industry-academia collaboration in waste management, sustainability and skill development.

    The partnership aims to build a long-term, industry-integrated sustainability model that directly engages students in solving real-world urban environmental challenges across Chennai.

    Under the agreement, students will participate in clean-up drives, waste management awareness campaigns, sustainability workshops, internships and innovation challenges. The collaboration will also cover hackathons, practical training and professional certification programmes focused on circular economy practices and environmental sustainability.

    A key initiative under the MoU is “Edubridge,” a programme designed to support the education and empowerment of children of frontline conservancy workers — a measure both institutions described as central to social inclusion and community impact.

    Urbaser Sumeet will also serve as the hygiene partner for major institutional events at KCG, demonstrating best practices in source segregation, solid waste management and urban cleanliness systems.

    “Engineering education today must go beyond laboratories and classrooms,” said Anand Jacob Varghese, Chairman, Hindustan Group of Institutions. “When our students walk alongside conservancy workers, manage waste drives and design recycling solutions for their own city, they are not just learning — they are becoming the kind of engineers and citizens Chennai needs.”

    Annie Jacob, Director of KCG College of Technology, said embedding Urbaser Sumeet’s operational expertise into campus programmes would give students direct exposure to one of Chennai’s most critical urban services. “From internships in waste vehicle operations to the Edubridge initiative, this collaboration is built around real impact — not just awareness,” she said.

    Albert Gleiser Ignacio, Managing Director of Urbaser Sumeet, said lasting change in urban waste management begins with how the next generation thinks about it. “Partnering with KCG gives us the opportunity to bring that ground reality into an academic setting and build a pipeline of professionals genuinely invested in sustainable urban systems,” he said.

    The partnership is expected to generate research-oriented projects in waste segregation, recycling systems, circular economy models and smart urban sustainability solutions. Both organisations said they intend to develop a scalable and replicable model for sustainable campus-community partnerships.

    The collaboration promotes the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and seeks to foster environmentally conscious practices across the student community and beyond.

  • Hitachi Vantara cuts client energy use with sustainable data infrastructure

    Hitachi Vantara cuts client energy use with sustainable data infrastructure

    Hitachi Vantara, the data storage and hybrid cloud subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd, published its FY2025 Sustainability Report on Thursday, outlining measurable energy and cost reductions achieved by clients using its latest sustainable data infrastructure platforms, as surging AI workloads reshape the economics of enterprise computing.

    The report arrives as the International Energy Agency warns that global data center electricity consumption could surpass 1,000 terawatt-hours by 2026 — roughly equivalent to a major industrialized nation’s annual usage — driven in large part by artificial intelligence workloads that demand constant, high-performance storage and processing.

    “Sustainability is increasingly tied to operational performance and business outcomes. In FY2025, we focused on helping customers manage the growth of AI and data while improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact,” said Akinobu Shimada, CEO, Hitachi Vantara in a statement.

    Among the report’s most striking findings: Turkish retail bank DestekBank achieved a 25% reduction in data center energy consumption after deploying Hitachi Vantara’s VSP One Block platform, alongside a 35% jump in application performance and a 20% drop in total cost of ownership. Belgian water utility Aquiris, which processes more than 110 million cubic meters of wastewater annually, credited the same platform with lowering its carbon footprint while collecting over one million data points per day for process monitoring.

    Indian media company Malayala Manorama reported the sharpest operational gains, cutting data center rack space by 66% and achieving 70% savings in power and cooling costs after modernising its infrastructure to support round-the-clock print, broadcast and digital operations.

    On the product side, the company introduced the VSP One Block High End, engineered to reduce power and cooling requirements for enterprise and AI-driven workloads. Hitachi Vantara also expanded lifecycle assessments across its VSP One Block, File and Object portfolios and launched its Clear Sight dashboard, giving customers direct visibility into energy consumption and carbon usage. The firm reported that up to 50% recycled content now appears in key components, and that less than 0.3% of materials were sent to landfill.

    Governance improvements included strengthened emissions tracking across Scope 1, Scope 2 and key Scope 3 categories, aligned with science-based reduction targets and evolving ESG reporting standards.